To Sell or Not to sell

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When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.....1 Corinthians 13:11.

This week I've been really debating myself on whether or not to sell my entire sports card collection.   I've been collecting off and on since 1985 and the pictures that you see is just a portion of the collection (I put the good ones up just to show off).....It's not that I couldn't use the money, but this has always been a hobby of mind and lately I've been doing the coin collection with the national parks quarters. So,anybody right now who reads this pray that I will make the wise decision.

Diamond club suites

Last night, I want to thank some people for making last night's game great...for the people who I invited Ernie, Mateo and Barrett for the good laughs we had at game.  For our server Whitney (pictured above) who treated all us with great respect and brought our food and drinks.  For Jan Lacey Hodges in sales at work who gave me tickets even though she didn't have too....and most importantly thank you to GM of Aramark (I believe his name is Jeff) for allowing us sit in his seats for one night.  It was an awesome experience.

March madness 2012

Looks like it's that time of year again when college basketball crazy fans get ready for the three weeks in what is called march madness....I've study the team brackets, regions where the team is playing, wins and losses and most importantly defense. So, without further ado here are my final four picks for this year......Kentucky, kansas, Vanderbilt, and marquette with Kentucky winning it all.

one more thing....I'm starting to not like going to the dentist....at the end of this month this will be my fourth time in two months. With the money, I have spent going to see him...I could have taken a weekend trip to phoenix for spring training...oh well it beats having dentures.

Signed
Tim "ready for the maddness to begin" Crippen

Why I never talk about past girlfriends on this blog until now

With Valentine's day just around the corner it's time to come clean.....I looked back on some previous February posts and none of them mention love except in a tongue and cheek way (See Jane Seymour post on Feb. 2008). In fact, I never talk about my girlfriends in the past at all....why is that? Let's start with the beginning....I never had a girlfriend until my first year in college....Oh sure, I had plenty of crushes in high school, but none them really develop into serious relationship.....in fact in high school I never even went to prom my senior year...pathetic yeah I know. Most of my past girlfriend experiences were actually pretty good, but as you date for some reason either you or your partner seemed to fizzle out. There were others that I had missed on opportunities and some you would just like to forget. I don't mention the names because of two reasons....One out of just respect...two it's in the past and you just can't change that. Love is a two way street and it only works when both people are on the same page, but i would also say that if your relationship with Christ isn't connecting vertically then all the other parts of your life won't be functioning either.

Signed
Tim "trying to open up" Crippen

Pay it forward and it will pay you back

I always believe that if you do good things for people without expecting something in return....it will be forwarded to you later down the road. That was a lesson my dad taught me that I still use today. Last summer, I was coming back from band practice in church and I stop by a gas station to fill up. I saw an older woman whose tire went flat on her car and she was so frustrated. Now, I normally would ignore this and would be on my merry way, but something inside my spirit compel me to help this woman. So, I offer to help put her spare tire while taking the old one off. After getting a little dirty from the dust and the grind....I finish my job. The woman offer me money, but I told her to pay it forward to someone else. She asked me if I was a Christian and I said yes I was and I left doing my good deed for today.

Now fast forward to today.....back in September our company is a big sponsor of JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research foundation) and we raise a lot of money through raffles, silent auctions etc. Well, one of the prizes they were raffling off was a chance for three people to take three of their friends to a Kansas City Royals 2012 game along with a parking pass sitting in suite section. I put tickets in but was not one of the three to win the tickets. Well, today a co-worker who I barely know out of the blue gave me her tickets. I asked her why she gave them to me? She said that she had heard that I was Royals fan and that the person she wanted to take would complain the entire time at the game. She felt like she would give it to someone else who would thoroughly enjoy it. I thanked Jan and gave her hug....she didn't have to do it, but I was really appreciative. God works in mysterious ways whether they are great or just in small tokens. There are still good people today.

Signed
Tim "pay it forward" Crippen

December to Remember 2011

As we come to the end of this month.....heck the end of this year.....I realize this month has had it's up and downs. First, let's start with first week of December....I was in Dallas, TX for the Major League Baseball winter meetings....It was exciting to see the business side of this game that I have loved for so many years. Former and current players making deals at Hilton Anatole which is big hotel. I was here mostly for the job fair where thousands of applicants are trying to get their foot in the door wether it would be for major team or minor league. The picture below shows this incredible zoo I had to deal with it.

I was mostly mad at the cost of the job fair...and yes there was a cost to apply for a job if can you believe that. It was $250. If, I had known there was cost for this thing I could save hundreds of dollars, but it was unique experience....so I move on.

My beloved gorillas...Pittsburg State won the division two football national championship...yeah exciting. With only one loss to Washburn....pitt state got it's revenge in the playoffs to Washburn, Northwest Missouri State, Delta State and Wayne State for the title game. Twenty years since my alma mater won the title here is me excited after the game as my cousin jefferey and I watched the game at a sports bar in overland park.

Christmas time was unique as Mom, Ernie and I flew on frontier airlines to our nation's capital ...Washington D.C. to see my brother. It was fun getting a chance to see the white house tour....the trees in each room were decorated to the nines and I even saw a replica of the white house made of gingerbread that weighed 300 pounds.



Seeing my niece and nephew again .....Nate is almost two and is growing like a weed and gracelynn is in her own little world.


So what does 2012 hold? Who knows hopefully I will be able to get a job in the sports industry next year that's the goal anyway. So, merry christmas and happy new year.

My first time at Allen Fieldhouse

Pics of laymens retreat

Open House pics of the new performing arts center

Looking at the northside of the building



Look how long the line is

Helzberg hall

Inside the Muriel kauffman theatre

Boston trip

So, last month I took my first trip to boston. It was an incredible trip of learning history like the above picture of Paul Revere in front of the old north church. It was where they lit the lanterns

on top of the steeple. This the place where the phrase "one if by land two if by sea."

The weather up there was incredible low 70's to mid 80's all week. You can't go anywhere in that city without seeing a dunkin donuts on just about every corner. Of course as a sports fan no trip is complete without a stop at old fenway park

Me and tim sparks at old fenway

The red sox were playing the royals and guess what the royals won 4-3 if you don't believe me here's the final score.

Of course I stopped where everybody knows your name.......other than heaven this is closest place.

However, I did go outside of Boston to see Plymouth, MA where the pilgrims in 1620 landed to America....the original mayflower wasn't there but a replica worked just as well.

Overall if you want a good view of the boston skyline go up the bunker hill monument and take a view from up top the pics below explain it...oh one more thing...no elevator

Wow what incredible view and yes I enjoy my trip


Signed

Tim "happy 5th anniversary blog" crippen

One Year Later poem

The summer grass grows on this lovely day
Can't believe it's been over one year today
At this time we would be going to county fairgrounds delight
or just sitting near a lake on a moonlit night
The holidays, the parties with family fun
We'll never be forgotten at the end of your run
You always work hard day into the night
and yet there were times that we still fight
You planted carrots, corn and beets that were red
taught me lessons in life that still stay inside my head
You were always the leader of our family troop
but God wanted you to be part of his group
In the early months we cried and we didn't understand
why he took you away for his master plans
As months have passed me bye, I will always remember his smile
or how he would always go the extra mile
That even after one year today
He would still want me to get on my knees pray

NHL Draft and minnesota trip

Well this past weekend, I was up in Minneapolis for the NHL draft and the hockey conference that SMWW invited me to come. I wasn't too sure if I was even going to go at first, but I'm really glad that I did.

First let's start with the rental car incident....when you get to the airport here in Minneapolis...if your renting a car...you have to take a tram to get to your rental car. next escalator then another escalator and then another...how many @#&#ing ways do you need to get to a rental car place. The sheraton in bloomington treated me like a king for great price. The hockey conference was excellent way for me to network and share business cards with people. Dr. Lashbrook founder of SMWW was the nicest guy I ever met...I'm hoping in the near future that this event will eventually land me a job in this industry.

I did go to the Mall of America

And just like Mary Tyler Moore...."I'm going to make it after all"

Signed

Tim "I want to drink out of Lord Stanley's cup" Crippen

Memorable May

Wow, what an interesting month......the first weekend in may was supposed to be about the big royal wedding .....it ended up being about the death of Osama bin laden. Then as of this month will make the longest time I have ever stayed with one company......3 years 10 months, but with the four year anniversary coming up it has been a struggle. Here, I'm trying to get into the sports industry, but yet I don't what part of industry to really go into......this is where I need to be patient with God and let him reveal where my talents could be used for the kingdom of god. I try get back into dating, but that fizzle before it even got started. Oh well, life is too short not to enjoy life. I also got to visit my niece for the first time and my nephew is now 15 months old. It was nice to see my brother and sister-in-law. (note to self.....remember dog drinking fountain and my nephew using it after the dog....hilarious).....June will be an intersting month. Hope all of you had a great memorial day weekend.

Opening Day 2011

Welcome to opening day at the K. These are probably the best seats I have ever had to opening day and I had the best time despite the royals losing 4-2 to the L.A. Angels. It was cool windy and I wore lots of layers of clothing. I had a nice cup fo hot chocolate...5 bucks can you believe that...the worse was that they ran out of cups by the fourth inning. As a baseball fan this is like Christmas Day for me....hopefully next year I will be working for the team or somewhere in the country where they have baseball. Overall, a great experience. double decker party bus

Andy Fairhurst and I tailgating before the game

Signed

Tim "go royals" Crippen

March Potpurri 2011

Too many things happening to post one subject that's why it's a potpurri month. First, I finally finish my class in sports business management class. Now, comes the hard part trying to find a job in the sports industry in this bad economy. Yesterday was my nephew's first birthday...so happy birthday Nate....where does the time go. Was able to get opening day royals tickets for March 31st....I'll post the pics in next month's blog. Then today I went to the Dave Ramsey Live event and guess what it was AAAAAAWWWWsome. Some things i already knew, some things needed to be refresh in my mind and even I learn a couple of new things. The place was pack as the picture below shows.

As far as march madness who is going to win the tournament......I think this year it's anybody's for the picking. I don't see a clear cut favorite.

Signed

Tim "I'm still debt free" Crippen

PS: Please see "the grace card" movie. It is powerful and talks a lot about forgiveness and it there is much better acting in the film.

Blizzard 2011 and the super bowl

Wow I know that groundhog didn't see his shadow, but his accuracy for predicting the forecast for a lifetime is around 40 percent. Another blizzard.......first it was christmas eve 2009 and now February 1st of this year. In my lifetime, I have never seen back to back winters quite like this and the northeast 36 inches of snow in new york city just in the month of january alone. Why is this happening so much??? If you think global warming....then I should send you outside with snow shovel and let you dig out there for an hour without a break. If you think it might be La Nina effect....perhaps that's a little more believable. After all, everytime we have a la nina or el nino effect in the Pacific ocean the winter weather does become a little crazy. Or maybe God is finally trying to tell us something. Me, I'm just sick of winter and I'm already crying uncle right now.

Dallas, TX home of the superbowl is getting the same weather. Yesterday, the snow came off Jerry Jones stadium roof and injured six people. Whatever happen when the superbowl was in sunny places like San Diego, phoenix or miami. Anyway, I digress......as far as predictions there is no way as Bears fan that I will root for the Packers....sorry prediction Steelers 23 Packers 20...go big ben and if you ever do any commercials I think brauny might be looking a new paper towel guy.

Signed

Tim "I'm sick of winter" Crippen

Another first

So it's a brand new year and another first is happening in my life. A little over 10 years ago, I graduated from Pittsburg State with B.A. degree in Communications and I thought I would never go back to taking classes. Fast forward to the present and I'm taking class online for the very first time. It's from Sports Management worldwide, a company associated with Western Oregon university that helps people try to get a job in sports. The class I'm taking is sports business management. Mostly the class deals with ticket sales and what it is like working in the front office. It's interesting class, but I'm wondering if this class is right for me. I figure if I want to be a GM and scout, this is one of the two courses I feel like I have to take to get to this dream. I've always wanted to work in the sports industry, but where god is leading me...I really don't know.
This morning, my pastor was starting a sermon series on "Audacious faith". If you look up the word Audacity it means boldness, daring or fearless. I remember my pastor saying "that if we don't live in audacious faith that we might be missing some of best moments in our lives as a Christian". When I heard that I feel like that's me. I'll admit that taking this class makes him uncomfortable and I that what I'm turning in for assignments sounds intelligent. However, if I don't come in with boldness attitude toward this class......I will never really know what god has in store for me.

My Christmas Love

Me and Alladin (the christmas camel) at Mount Vernon

Looking back

I decided to look back on some of my November posts. Two years ago, I was alone on Thanksgiving eating a Hungry man XXL dinner. Four years ago, I lost my grandpa Schneider. Of course, I had my usual comments about elections, veterans day and thanksgivings past. Yet, for some reason this November feels like there is sense of loneliness in life. Yeah, I have my mom and my brother and sister-in-law along with my nephew are coming in this thanksgiving. I am very thankful for that, but with dad now gone these past four months it seems like my spirit has been moving me in a direction I haven't felt in quite a long time.

This past Veterans Day, the guys at the funeral home finally laid the headstone for my dad. It was only fitting for him on this day since he served in the Air Force. I tend to enjoy this holiday a little bit more than even Christmas not that I don't celebrate our Jesus birthday, but I that I am so thankful in my life that words can't describe. I know that for years I have taken my dad for granted. Whether it was cooking waffles on Saturday, cutting trees, or doing some home improvement projects. Dad would always be the one to do it. Now, I'm one who has to learn how to cut trees ( even though I'm not a fan of doing that kind of stuff).

Maybe I'm slowly letting my guard down and trying to open my heart a little more to others and less of myself. It still isn't easy but I feel I'm heading in the right direction. After all I now I have extra pair of eyes looking down on me. We all will miss him when the holidays come especially his laugh........I think I get my sense of humor from him.

Signed

Tim Crippen

My first NBA game

As a kid growing up my brother and I would compete against each other in game of basketball or in a game H-O-R-S-E just to see who was better. I think my brother won that contest that's why I enjoy baseball a little bit more. Basketball hereoes in our days were Michael Jordan, Majic johnson and Larry Bird. Now the NBA stars are Kobe Bryant, Carmelo anthony and Lebron James. Well, last night I saw my first ever NBA in person as the Miami Heat took on the Oklahoma City Thunder. A sold out game that produce little if any excitement out of me. I know it's only a preseason game, but for some reason I was expecting a little more.

Sure King james had a couple of nice dunks, but I was like where was the excitement. The NBA slogan years ago was "NBA it's fantastic." My slogan would be "NBA.....ehh it's okay." I honestly think the highlights of the night weren't even on the court. Bill Self, Ku basketball coach was there to see his former players Cole Aldrich and Mario Chalmers play. His wife was with him and they showed the lovely couple on the Kiss Cam segment. Also, there was loudmouth near us that was making funny comments throughtout the third quarter.

Will I go to another NBA game.....I doubt it...unless somebody else pays for the tickets

Signed Tim " NBA is better on TV than seeing it in person" Crippen

PS: Here is a nice picture now that's fantastic.